Container sealing ring



May 28, 1963 H. G. VAUGHN CONTAINER SEALING RING 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 15, 1958 INVENTOR Harold (i. Vii/ in11 ATTORNEYS May 28, 1963 H. G. VAUGHN 3,091,489

CONTAINER SEALING RING Filed April 15, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Harold (LVmgIm BY 9W! ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,091,489 CONTAINER SEALING RING Harold G. Vaughn, Warren, Ohio, assignor to The Ohio Corrugating Company, Warren, Ohio, a corporation of Filed Apr. 15, 1958, Ser. No. 728,668 7 Claims. (Cl. 292256.69)

The invention relates to container sealing devices and more particularly to the split-ring type of clamping or sealing ring for clamping in place the cover of a container such as a metal or fiber drum, barrel, pail or the like.

Generally, shipping drums and similar containers are open at one end and are usually provided with a peripheral bead. A removable cover for the open end is provided with a peripheral flange for fitting over the bead in a substantially air-tight manner. .The cover flange is secured on the container bead by a split ring of channelshape cross section that clamps the flange and head together.

Prior clamping rings have included various means for contracting and expanding the ring. Some of the prior rings have been subject to several disadvantages having both structural and economical aspects. In some lever lock rings the lever moves in the plane of the ring inside ber of parts which are unduly costly.

Some prior clamping rings include an outwardly moving lever mounted upon one end portion of the split ring and a strap connected to the other end portion of the split ring and to the lever. This type of clamping ring is generally the most efficient of the prior clamping rings. However, the opening movement of the ring is limited,

' making it diflicult to get the ring off and on, particularly on small diameter containers.

Also, as the connecting strap is usually rigidly connected to one end portion of the ring, and is substantially rigid, cold working of the strap by opening and closing the ring causes the strap to quickly break.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a clamping ring for containers which overcomes the above-stated disadvantages and difliculties.

Another object of the invention is to provide a clamping ring for containers having an outwardly moving lever movable in the plane of the ring, and a flexible strap of spring steel or the like carried by the lever for detachable connection to the other end portion of the split ring.

A further object of the invention is to provide a clamping ring of this character in which the flexible connecting strap is provided with an opening for detachable connection to a projection upon the other end portion of the split ring.

It is also an object of the invention to provide such a device embodying means for drawing the ends of the split ring together and pressing them laterally inward into firm engagement with the underlying cover and container bead when in clamped position so that the cover is clamped around its entire periphery.

These and other objects, apparent from the drawings and following description, may be attained, the above described difliculties overcome and the advantages and results obtained, by the apparatus, construction, arrange- 3,fi9l,489 Patented May 28, 1963 ment and combinations, sub-combinations and parts which comprise the present invention, a preferred embodiment of which, illustrative of the best mode in which applicant has contemplated applying the principle, being set forth in detail in the following description and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

The improved clamping ring construction of the present invention may be stated in general terms as including in combination with a cylindrical open-head container having a closed bottom and an open end with a peripheral bead therearound, a cover for the open top having a. peripheral flange engageable with the bead, a metal split ring surrounding the engaged flange and bead, the ring being of channel shape cross section, an operating lever of channel cross section pivotally connected to one end portion of the split ring and movable outward in the plane of the ring, a flexible spring steel strap connected at one end to an intermediate portion of the lever and having an aperture at its free end, .a projection upon the other end portion of the ring for engagement with the aperture in said strap for drawing the end portions of the split ring toward each other to clamp the ring tightly around the cover flange and container bead when the lever is moved into clamping position against the outer side of the ring.

Preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of the upper portion of a container with a sealing ring embodying the invention clamping the cover upon the container;

FIG. 2 is a [fragmentary top plan view of the sealing ring in closed position;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary top plan view of the sealing ring 1n open position;

FIG. 4 is a side elevation of the ring in closed position;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the sealing ring in open position;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 66, FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse sectional View taken as on the line 77, FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary plan view of one end portion of the clamping ring showing the projection thereon in the form of a tongue welded to the ring;

FIG. 9' is a fragmentary plan view of one end portion of another modification of the ring showing the projection in the form of a shouldered stud riveted upon the ring;

FIG. 10 is a side elevation of the device shown in FIG. 9; and,

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary elevation of the end portion of a modified form of flexible connecting strap for detachable engagement with the stud shown in FIGS. 9 and 10.

Referring now more particularly to the form of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 7, in which similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout, the invention is illustrated as embodied in a sealing ring for clamping in place the cover of a shipping drum 12 of well known form.

An outwardly rolled peripheral bead 13 is formed upon the upper open end of the drum 12. A recessed cover or closure 14 fits into the upper open end of the drum and is provided at the upper end with the rounded flange 15 which fits over the complementary bead 13 of the drum, an annular compressed gasket or sealing ring 16 being located therebetween as in usual practice.

For the purpose of holding the cover securely in position upon the drum, a split spring clamping ring 17 is provided. The split ring 17 is made of flexible and preferably resilient metal, such as a very light gauge sheet steel and is channel shaped in cross section, being shown substantially half-round in the drawings.

The top edge 18 of the ring overlies the cover flange 15, while its lower edge 19 projects inward beneath the bead 13 on the drum. Split rings constructed for such engagement with a cover and container bead are well known in the art.

The mechanism for manipulating the clamping ring 17 to draw it tight around the cover flange and container bead, or to release it, includes the operating lever 26 pivotally connected to one end portion of the split ring 17 and adapted to move outwardly in the plane of the mug.

For the purpose of forming a simple and eflicient pivotal support for the lever 20, a channel or U-shaped metal pivot block 21 is spot welded or otherwise attached on one end portion of the ring in embracing relation therewith, as best shown in FIG. 5.

The lever is pivotally connected to the block 29 as by the headed studs 22 pivotally located through the hollow bosses 23 of the block 21 and through the arms 24 upon the adjacent bifurcated end of the lever 20. It will be seen that the operating lever 20 is thus pivoted to swing about an axis paralleling the axis of the ring 17 or, in other words, to move substantially in the plane of the ring.

A flexible connector strap 25, formed of spring steel, is connected at one end to the operating lever 20. For the purpose of connecting the strap 25 to the lever 20,

a boss 26 is formed upon the lever at a point intermediate the ends thereof, and an opening 27 is. formed in the end of the boss toward the pivotal point 22 of the lever.

One end of the flexible 25 is inserted through the opening 27 in said boss, and is connected to the lever as by a rivet 28. The free end of the strap 25 is preferably of greater width, as indicated at 29, and may be curved transversely so as to conform to the crosssectional shape of the ring 17, and an elongated aperture 30 is formed therein.

A tongue '31 is located on the other end portion of the ring for engaging in the aperture 30 in the flexible connector strap 25. The tongue 3-1 may be formed integrally upon the ring. As best shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 6, the tongue 31 is punched from the ring, the adjacent end portion of the ring being cut out as at 32, and the tongue punched outwardly therefrom beyond the periphery of the ring. Shoulders 33 are thus formed at the base of the tongue 31 for engagement by the end of the slot 30 of the flexible connector strap, as best shown in FIG. 6'.

For the purpose of holding the lever 20 in retracted position, in contact with the periphery of the ring 17, an angular latch member 34 is pivoted upon the ring, as by a rivet or stud 35, and adapted to engage in the slot 36 in the end of the lever. Apertures 37 and 33 are formed in the latch member 34 and the lever respectively, to receive a conventional seal for locking the ring in closed position.

In applying the improved sealing device to the container 12, the lever 20 is swung outward substantially to the position shown in FIG. 3, with the free end of the spring steel strap '25 detached from the tongue 31 on the ring 17. The ends of the split ring 20* are thus permitted to spread apart, as shown in FIG. 3, so that it may be easily and readily placed upon a container.

The expanded ring 20' is then positioned to encircle the cover 14 which has been placed upon the open end of the container 12, and the aperture 30 in the free end of the spring steel strap 25 is engaged over the tongue 31 on the other end portion of the split ring. The lever 20 is then retnacted to the position of FIGS. 2 and 4.

By this retraction of the lever, the flexible strap 25 is drawn inward toward the ring 17 and at the same time I is drawn endwise toward the lever, so that the ends of the split ring are pulled together, substantially into abutting engagement and the ring tightly clamps the cover in place upon the container. The pivoted latch member 34 is then engaged in the slot 36 in the end of the lever, to hold the lever in this retracted position.

In drawing the ends of the split ring together in the manner described above, the flat spring steel strap 20 conforms to the periphery of the split ring 17, pressing finmly against the end portions of the ring and forcing them inward against the rim flange 15 of the cover and the rim bead 13 0f the container, so that the ring effectually seals the entire perimeter of the cover.

To open the container, it is only necessary to disengage the pivoted latch member 34 from the slot 36 in the end of the lever, and swing the lever outward. This outward movement of the lever causes the lapertured end of the spring steel strap 25 to become disengaged from the tongue 31, the ends of the split ring'17 thus being permitted to spread apart, as shown in FIG. 3, so that the ring may be easily and readily removed from the container.

It will thus be evident that the improved clamping ring with outwardly moving lever upon one end portion thereof, and having the spring steel strap attached thereto and adapted to be detachably connected to a projection upon the other end portion thereof, may be opened sufficiently to permit it to be easily placed upon and removed from the container.

Also, it will be seen that the spring steel strap, being detachable at one end from the ring, will not be subjected to cold working by manipulation of the clamping lever, and will thus not be caused to'break.

In FIG. 8 a modified form of tongue is provided upon one end portion of the split clamping ring for engagement with the aperture in the connector strap. As shown in this figure, the tongue 31' may be in the form of an angular extension upon the sheet metal member 3 1", welded or otherwise attached to the peripheral portion of the split ring 17, near one end thereof. Otherwise the device may be the same as shown in FIGS. 1 to 7 and above described.

Another modification of .the projection for engagement with the apertured end of the spring steel strap is shown in FIGS. 9 to 11. In this embodiment of the-invention, a shouldered stud or rivet 40 is substituted for the tongue. This stud is fixed in a boss 41 formed in one end portion of the ring 17, and is provided with a shoulder 42, of less diameter than the head 43.

The spring steel strap 25' is provided with an aperture 30 of slightly larger diameter than the head 43 of the stud, so that the shoulder 42 of the stud maybe received within said aperture. All other parts of this embodiment of the sealing device are the same as illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 7 and above described.

In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clearness and understanding, but no unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirements of the prior art, because such words are used for descriptive purposes herein and are intended to be broadly construed.

Moreover, the embodiments of the improved construction illustrated and described herein are byway of example, and the scope of the present invention is not limited to the exact-details of construction.

Having now described the invention or discovery, the construction, the operation, and use of preferred embodiments thereof, and the advantageous new and useful results obtained thereby; the new and useful construction, and reasonable mechanical equivalents thereof obvious to those skilled in the art, are set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A sealing ring device for a container of the openhead type having a peripheral bead and a container cover having a bead-engaging flange, said device comprising a split clamping ring having spaced ends and having a channel-shaped transverse cross section engageable with said bead and flange when the latter are assembled, a lever pivotally connected to said ring near one of said ends, said lever also being of channel-shaped cross section and curved longitudinally to con-form to the curvature of the ring, so as to fit snugly about the exterior of the ring when swung into engagement therewith, a flexible spring metal strap arranged to span the gap between the ring ends and fixed rigidly at one end to an intermediate portion of the lever, the other end of said flexible strap being normally disconnected from the other end of the ring, and means for detachably connecting the other end of said flexible strap to the other end portion of the ring, whereby when the lever is swung inwardly into contact with the ring the flexible strap conforms to the periphery of the ring pressing firmly against the end portions of the ring and forcing them inward against the rim flange of the cover and the peripheral bead of the container, so that the ring effectually seals the entire perimeter of the cover.

2. A sealing ring device for a container of the openhead type having a peripheral bead and a container cover having a bead-engaging flange, said device comprising a split clamping ring having spaced ends and having a channel-shaped transverse cross section engage-able with said bead and flange when the latter are assembled, a lever pivotally connected to said ring near one of said ends, said lever also being of channel-shaped cross section and curved longitudinally to conform to the curvature of the ring, so as to fit snugly about the exterior of the ring when swung into engagement therewith, a flexible spring metal strap arranged to span the gap between the ring ends and fixed rigidly at one end to an intermediate portion of the lever, the other end of said flexible strap being normally disconnected from the other end of the ring, a projection upon the ring near the other end thereof, and means upon the other end of said flexible strap for detachably engaging said projection, whereby when the lever is swung inwardly into contact with the ring the flexible strap conforms to the periphery of the ring pressing firmly against the end portions of the ring and forcing them inward against the rim flange of the cover and the peripheral head of the container, so that the ring effectually seals the entire perimeter of the cover.

3. A sealing ring device for a container of the openhead type having a peripheral bead and a container cover having a bead-engaging flange, said device comprising a split clamping ring having spaced ends and having a channel-shaped transverse cross section engageable with said head and flange when the latter are assembled, a lever pivotally connected to said ring near one of said ends, said lever also being of channel-shaped cross section and curved longitudinally to conform to the curvature of the ring, so as to fit snugly about the exterior of the ring when swung into engagement therewith, a flexible spring metal strap arranged to span the gap between the ring ends and fixed rigidly at one end to an intermediate portion of the lever, the other end of said flexible strap being normally disconnected from the other end of the ring, there being an aperture in the other end of said flexible strap, and a projection upon the ring near the other end thereof for engagement with the aperture in the strap, whereby when the lever is swung inwardly into contact with the ring the flexible strap conforms to the periphery of the ring pressing firmly against the end portions of the ring and forcing them inward against the rim flange of the cover and the peripheral bead of the container, so that the ring effectually seals the entire perimeter of the cover.

4. A sealing ring device for a container of the openhead type having a peripheral bead and a container cover having a bead-engaging flange, said device comprising a split clamping ring having spaced ends and having a channel-shaped transverse cross section engageable with said bead and flange when the latter are assembled, a lever pivotally connected to said ring near one of said ends, said lever also being of channel-shaped cross section and curved longitudinally to conform to the curvature of the ring, so as to fit snugly about the exterior of the ring when swung into engagement therewith, a flexible spring metal strap arranged to span the gap between the ring ends and fixed rigidly at one end to an intermediate portion of the lever, the other end of said flexible strap being normally disconnected from the other end of the ring, there being an aperture in the other end of said flexible strap, and a tongue upon the ring near the other end thereof for engagement with the aperture in the strap, whereby when the lever is swung inwardly into contact with the ring the flexible strap conforms to the periphery of the ring pressing firmly against the end portions of the ring and forcing them inward against the rim flange of the cover and the peripheral head of the container, so that the ring efl'ectually seals the entire perimeter of the cover.

5. A sealing ring device for a container of the openhead type having a peripheral bead and a container cover having a bead engaging flange, said device comprising a split clamping ring having spaced ends and having a channel-shaped transverse cross section engageable with said bead and flange when the latter are assembled, a lever pivotally connected to said ring near one of said ends, said lever also being of channel-shaped cross section and curved longitudinally to conform to the curvature of the ring, so as to fit snugly about the exterior of the ring when swung into engagement therewith, a flexible spring metal strap arranged to span the gap between the ring ends and fixed rigidly at one end to an intermediate portion of the lever, the other end of said flexible strap being normally disconnected from the other end of the ring, there being an aperture in the other end of said flexible strap, and an integral tongue punched outwardly upon said ring near the other end thereof for engagement with the aperture in the strap, whereby when the lever is swung inwardly into contact with the ring the flexible strap conforms to the periphery of the ring pressing firmly against the end portions of the ring and forcing them inward against the rim flange of the cover and the peripheral bead of the container, so that the ring effectually seals the entire perimeter of the cover.

6'. A sealing ring device for a container of the openhead type having a peripheral bead and a container cover having a bead-engaging flange, said device comprising a split clamping ring having spaced ends and having a channel-shaped transverse cross section engageable with said head and flange when the latter are assembled, a lever pivotally connected to said ring near one of said ends, said lever also being of channel-shaped cross section and curved longitudinally to conform to the curvature of the ring, so as to fit snugly about the exterior of the ring when swung into engagement therewith, a flexible spring metal strap arranged to span the gap between the ring ends and fixed rigidly at one end to an intermediate portion of the lever, the other end of said flexible strap being normally disconnected from the other end of the ring, there being an aperture in the other end of said flexible strap, and a sheet metal member fixed rigidly to the ring near the other end thereof and having an outwardly angled tongue thereon for engagement with the aperture in the strap, whereby when the lever is swung inwardly into contact with the ring the flexible strap conforms to the periphery of the ring pressing firmly against the end portions of the ring and forcing them inward against the rim flange of the cover and the peripheral bead of the container, so that the ring effectually seals the entire perimeter of the cover.

7. A sealing ring device for a container of the openhead type having a peripheral bead and a container cover having a bead-engaging flange, said device comprising a split clamping ring having spaced ends and having a channel-shaped transverse cross section engageable with said bead and flange when the latter are assembled, a lever pivotally connected to said ring near one of said ends, said lever also being of channel-shaped cross section and curved longitudinally to conform to the curvature of the ring, so as to fit snugly about the exterior of the ring when swung. into engagement therewith, a flexible spring metal strap arranged to span the gap between the ring ends and fixed rigidly at one .end to an intermediate portion of the V lever, the other end of said flexible strap being normally disconnected from the other end of the ring, there being an aperture in the other end of said flexible strap, and a headed stud upon the ring near the other end thereof for 10 them inward against the rim flange of the cover and the peripheral bead of the container, so that the ring effectually seals the entire perimeter of the cover.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 777,263 Mead Dec. 13, 1904 2,368,758 Grotnes Feb. 6, 1945 2,750,064- Clarke June 12, 1956 2,784,994 Hopkins Mar. 12, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 549,621 Great Britain Nov. 30, 1942 

1. A SEALING RING DEVICE FOR A CONTAINER OF THE OPENHEAD TYPE HAVING A PERIPHERAL BEAD AND A CONTAINER COVER HAVING A BEAD-ENGAGING FLANGE, SAID DEVICE COMPRISING A SPLIT CLAMPING RING HAVING SPACED ENDS AND HAVING A CHANNEL-SHAPED TRANSVERSE CROSS SECTON ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID BEAD AND FLANGE WHEN THE LATTER ARE ASSEMBLED, A LEVER PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO SAID RING NEAR ONE OF SAID ENDS, SAID LEVER ALSO BEING OF CHANNEL-SHAPED CROSS SECTION AND CURVED LONGITUDINALLY TO CONFORM TO THE CURVATURE OF THE RING, SO AS TO FIT SNUGLY ABOUT THE EXTERIOR OF THE RING WHEN SWUNG INTO ENGAGEMENT THEREWITH, A FLEXIBLE SPRING METAL STRAP ARRANGED TO SPAN THE GAP BETWEEN THE RING ENDS AND FIXED RIGIDLY AT ONE END TO AN INTERMEDIATE PORTION OF THE LEVER, THE OTHER END OF SAID FLEXIBLE STRAP BEING NORMALLY DISCONNECTED FROM THE OTHER END OF THE RING, AND MEANS FOR DETACHABLY CONNECTING THE OTHER END OF SAID FLEXIBLE STRAP TO THE OTHER END PORTION OF THE RING, WHEREBY WHEN THE LEVER IS SWUNG INWARDLY INTO CONTACT WITH THE RING THE FLEXIBLE STRAP CONFORMS TO THE PERIPHERY 